Extensible linkage



Dec. 30, 1941., K. c. AUGENSTEIN 2,237,967

EXTENSIBLE LINKAGE Filed April 4, 1941 Patented Dec. 30, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE EXTENSIBLE LINKAGE Cranston, R. 1.

Application April 4, 1941, Serial No. 386,864

6 Claims.

This invention relates to an extensible selfretracting linkage, similar to the so-called "lazy tong type, and more particularly to wrist watch bracelets and the like articles of jewelry.

Extensible linkages of the so-called lazy tong or equalizing link type generally operate in association with springs or the like resilient members operative to retract the links and normally hold them in retracted position. Such constructions cannot, as a practical matter, be satisfactorily made in relatively narrow widths without sacrificing their extensible, self-retracting character. A further objectionable feature of such constructions is the lack of flexibility which prevents them from being folded or rolled up into a compact form.

The principal objects of the present invention are to overcome the aforementioned objectionable features and to provide an extensible selfretracting linkage which is of strong and durable construction, presenting a narrow slender appearance particularly suitable for both mens and women's jewelry; and to provide a construction which may carry or receive difierent types of ornamentation, finish, etc.

Further objects will be apparent from a consideration of the following description and the accompanying drawing wherein Fig. 1 is a full scale top plan view of a wrist watch bracelet embodying the present invention; 30

Figs. 2 and 3 are enlarged bottom plan views of the links in retracted and partly extended positions, respectively;

Fig, 4 is an enlarged perspective view of the top shell member:

Figs. 5 and 6 are enlarged perspective views of the links constituting a pair;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged perspective view of the bottom shell member;

In accordance with the present invention a plurality of links, preferably arranged in pairs, are interconnected at or adjacent to their ends by a hollow or tubular pivot which, if desired,

5 may be formed integral with one of the links,

and a coil or helical spring is disposed within the pivot, the coil spring being formed with laterally projecting ends, one of which is suitably anchored so as to act against one of the links and the other end being extended so as to act against the other link in such a manner as to urge the links together. In a chain or bracelet made from a plurality of pairs of such links, each pair is interconnected by a hollow pivot in the same or similar manner as the individual act against the companion pivots and the other ends positioned so as to act against the adjacent links connected by these pivots, thus cooperating to swing the entire line of links to retracted position, as hereinafter more fully described. In order to maintain the links in a predetermined aligned retracted position, suitable stops or the like may be provided and so arranged as to limit the swinging movement of the links relative to each other.

Although the links may be of any desired shape or design and appropriately finished for a contemplated use, they are preferably provided with caps or shells which are designed and finished to give the desired ornamental character, partic- 85 ularly when they are to be used in bracelets and the like articles of jewelry.

In the embodiment herein shown for the purpose oi illustration, the bracelet consists of a plurality of pairs of top and bottom links I and Fig. 8 is an enlarged perspective view of a re- 2, respectively interconnected adjacent to their tracting spring;

Fig, 9 is an enlarged fragmentary bottom view of the linkage prior to the application of the bottom shell members;

ends so as to permit swinging movement from a normally retracted position (Figs. 1 and 2) to an extended position, as shown in Fig. 3. Each of the top links comprises an elongate link Fig. 10 is an enlarged section on the line III-l0 5 member 4, formed at each end with an integral of Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is an enlarged section on the line I l-l I of Fig. 3; v

Fig. 12 is an enlarged perspective view showing upstanding tubular pivot 5 adapted loosely to fit one of the openings 6 (Fig. 6) formed in the companion link member I of bottom link 2, thereby pivotally interconnecting the two members.

several pairs of links interconnected, but prior In order permanently to secure the link members to assembling the springs and shell members;

Fig. 13 is an enlarged perspective view of a coupling member; and

Fig. 14 is an enlarged perspective view of a terminal link.

together the outer ends of the pivots 5 may be peened over, as shown at 8 in Figs. 10 to 12,

and in this manner any desired length of linkage.

may be assembled, as illustrated in Fig. 12.

In order to hold the links in an aligned retracted position, the lateral edges of the memor the link members may be: shaped and encased to present any given configuration, such as the elongate generally 8 appearance illustrated more clearly in Fig. 1. With this design the link memhere 4 cooperate with the stops l so that when the links of the chain or bracelet are in retracted position, the links are closely and uniformly positioned with respect to one another, as shown in Fig. 1. It will be observed that the members 1 of the bottom links are appreciably shorter than the members 4 of the top links. This relationship permits the top links of the retracted bracelet to assume an oblique angleapproximately forty-five degrees-with respect to the straightened bracelet as shown in Fig. 1, while the bottom links are disposed nearly at right angles to the line of the bracelet as shown in Fig. 2; and ensures that the S-shaped top links are nested in juxtaposed parallel relation so that they overlie and conceal the bottom links when the links are in normal, retracted position.

In order to efiect retraction of the links and normally hold them in retracted position each pivot receives a coil spring l2 (Fig. 8), the ends of which are provided with laterally extending fingers l4 and I5, and these springs are arranged in cooperating pairs with the fingers ll of the springs in the complemental pivots 5 of the alternate link members 4 extending into the coils of the springs in the respective tubular pivots of said alternate link members so that the fingers I4 of each pair are in-parallel relation, the respective fingers of said pair of springs being positioned to act against the respective alternate link members 4 which carry the springs l2. As shown more clearly in Fig. 12, in a linkage made up of links a, b, 0, etc., the links a, c, e and a constitute the alternate or top link members 4 and the links b, d and f constitute the intermediate or bottom link members I. The end 14 of spring l2 carried by the right-hand pivot 5 of link a spans the link 12 and projects into the left-hand pivot 5 of link 0, and likewise the end I4 01 the spring l2 carried by the left-hand pivot of link 0 spans the intermediate link I; and projects into the right-handpivot 5 of link a; whereas the end l5 of the spring carried by link a is positioned to act against link a and likewise the end l5 of the spring carried by link 0 is positioned to act against the link 0, as shown in Fig. 11. In like manner the arrangement of springs l2 in links 0, d and e, and in links e, f and g is such as to cooperate so as to swing the entire line of links toward each other and normally retain them in retracted position.

When the links are extended as shown in Fig. 3, the swinging movement of the individual links simply causes the springs l2 to be wound up and thus tensioned sufilciently to exert a retracting force on each link, urging the links back to normal position. The retractive force exerted by the springs i2 depends upon the strength of the spring and the degree of tension under which it is placed when the links are extended, and by proper selection of the springs and assembling them so that they are normally under a predetermined tension, any desired retractive force, within reasonable limits, may be obtained. When the links are fully extended, the members 4 and 1 assume the position shown in Fig. 12, with the pivots 5 in line, so that the bracelet may be expanded approximately twice its normal or contracted length when so extended.

In order to enhance the appearance of the linkage, as well as to provide means against which the fingers l5 may act, the alternate or top link members 4 are provided with ornamental shells or caps i6 (Fig. 4), the edges oil which are crimped over-the marginal portions of the link members 4, thereby permanently securing the parts together, and likewise the bottom members I are provided with ornamental shells or caps l8 formed with projections 20 which receive the ears I!) oi. the link members I. It will be observed that the inner walls of the shell l5 provide an abutment against which the fingers l5 may act, this arrangement being the same, in effect, as though the fingers l5 were secured to the body portion of the link members 4; and it will be further observed that the projections 20 actually provide the engageable stops which limit the swinging movement of the links to retracted position, as shown in Fig. 2, and restrain the normal tendency of the springs to curl the bracelet inwardly when it is laid substantially flat, as shown in Fig. 1.

In both cases the shape or configuration of the shells corresponds to that of the links to which they are attached and it will be noted that the shells not only conceal the pivots and springs and retain the spring ends i4 and IS in operative position, but also provide a housing adapted to receive suitable types oi! ornamentation, finish,

etc. Where, as here shown, the linkage is designed for wrist watch bracelets and the like articles oi jewelry, the outer ends of the respective terminal links 22 (Figs. 1 and 14) are modified to provide openings 24 to receive pivots 25 carried by coupling members 26 (Fig. 13). The coupling members 25 may be of any suitable design and construction and are here shown as being formed with a recess 21 to receive the ends of terminal links 22, and hooks or the like members 28 by means of which the coupling members may be detachably secured to the loops of a wrist watch An outstanding feature of a bracelet constructed in accordance with the present invention is the provision of a narrow slender appearance, attributable to the construction of the linkage, and a further feature resides in the fact that the construction permits the linkage to be folded,

twisted or rolled into a compact form without injury to the individual links. As the self-retracting links of the improved bracelet are pivotally connected to each other only at their ends, the linkage has extreme flexibility in a lateral or transverse direction, as contrasted with the relative lateral inflexibility of the common type of lazy tong bracelet in which the links are pivotally connected at their centers as well as at their ends.

Hence, a wrist or watch bracelet constructed as herein described. is unusually comfortable to the wearer, for it will readily yield in all directions and accommodate itself to the contour of the wrist with a minimum of restrictive pressure; and the narrow width afforded by the oblique, longitudinally overlapping arrangement of the top links normally conceals the bottom links, as aforesaid, and enhances the style and appearance of the bracelet, without sacrifice of durability or bracelet is less expensive to manufacture than links 2 which are not directly engaged by the springs. The members I thus serve merely as free swinging spacing bars, pivotally interconnecting complemental pivots of adjacent top links, and need not be provided with special anchorages for attaching the spring ends i4 thereto. This arrangement not only simplifies the construction of the bottom links, but also facilitates the assembly of the encased links; for, the shells l6 may be applied to the members 4 before the springs are inserted in the tubular pivots 5, and the hooked tips of the tensioned ends I may be inserted in the coils of complemental springs, before the shells or casings 3 are applied to the members I to enclose thesprings and retain said spring ends in operative position.

It is evident, moreover, that this novel relationship of the retracting springs involves the location of a complemental pair of spring coils in the tubular pivots at the ends of adjacent top links, with the ends ll of the respective coils extending toward each other between the pivots of the bottom link with which they are associated, and the provision of means independent of the bottom link (such as the engagement of the hooked fingers in the opposite coils) for holding said ends together or preventing relative displacement thereof. Indeed, it will be apparent from the drawing that this relationship would be satisfied by using a single spring having two coils disposed as above described, but provided with a single length of wire integral with and connecting the two coils, in place of the two parallel end portions 14 illustrated herein; also that the top and bottom links may be reversed, if desired.

While I have shown and described one desirable embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that this disclosure is for the purpose of illustration and that various changes in shape, proportion and arrangement of parts, as well as the substitution of equivalent elements for those herein shown and described, may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the I invention as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An extensible self-retracting bracelet comprising a plurality of links, including alternate and intermediate links, interconnected adjacent to their ends and only at their ends by tubular pivots formed integral with said alternate links, a coil spring disposed in each pivot, the coil springs being arranged to define cooperating pairs and each spring having a laterally extending end portion which acts against the tubular pivot at the end of the adjacent alternate link and the other end of said spring acting against the link having the pivot in which it is disposed, so as to swing the links together, and ornamental shells carried by said links to conceal said springs and pivots and retain the spring ends in operative position, the shells carried by said intermediate links being formed with projecting stop members positioned so as to engage one another to limit the swinging movement of said links toward each other.

2, An extensible self-retracting bracelet, comprising a series of alternate and intermediate links pivotally interconnected at their ends and only at their ends, each alternate link member of the series having pivots adjacent its respective ends and each intermediate link member having openings adjacent its respective ends, said openings respectively receiving one of the pivots of the next adjacent alternate links, whereby the alternate links normally overlie and conceal the intermediate links when the bracelet is retracted and all links of the series are in approximate alignment when the bracelet is fully extended, and a retracting spring associated with each of said pivots, each spring having an end portion extending longitudinally over an intermediate link and engaging the pivot of the next adjacent link, so that the end portions of each complemental pair of springs extend toward each other in substantially parallel relation and are held together against relative displacement, the opposite end of each spring engaging the alternate link carrying the pivot with which it is associated and the intermediate links constituting free swinging connecting members.

3. An extensible self-retracting bracelet, comprising a series of alternate and intermediate links pivotally interconnected at their ends and only at their ends, each alternate link member of the series having pivots adjacent its respective ends and each intermediate link member having openings adjacent its respective ends, said openings respectively receiving one of the pivots of the next adjacent alternate links, whereby the alternate links normally overlie and conceal the intermediate links when the bracelet is retracted and all links of the series are in approximate alignment when the bracelet is fully extended, and a retracting spring associated with each of said pivots, each spring having an end portion extending longitudinally over an intervening link and engaging the pivot of the next adjacent link, so that the end portions of each complemental pair of springs extend toward each other in substantially parallel relation and are held together against relative displacement, the opposite end of each spring engaging the alternate link carrying the pivot with which it is associated, the intermediate links constituting free swinging connecting members and being shorter than the alternate links, so that the latter are disposed at an oblique angle approaching fortyfive degrees to the axis of the retracted bracelet, while the former links are disposed more nearly transverse to the axis of the bracelet. v

4. An extensible self-retracting bracelet, comprising a series of top and bottom links pivotally interconnected at their ends and only at their ends, each top link having a link member provided with tubular pivots adjacent its respective ends and each bottom link having a flat link member formed with openings adjacent its opposite ends, said openings respectively receiving one of the pivots of the next adjacent top link members, whereby the top links normally overlie and conceal the bottom links when the bracelet is retracted and all the links of the series are in approximate alignment when the bracelet is fully extended, and coil springs located in each of said tubular pivots, each spring having an end portion extending longitudinally over said fiat bottom link members and formed with a hooked tip received in the coil of the spring in the pivot of the next adjacent top link, so that the end portions of each complemental pair of springs extend toward each other in substantially parallel relation and react exclusively against the top links to swing said links together. the top links having outer shells covering said pivot-carrying members and the opposite ends of said springs engaging the walls of said shells, and the bottom links constituting free swinging connecting members and having shells applied thereto to enclose said springs and retain the ends thereof in operative position.

5. An extensible self-retracting bracelet comprising a series of top and bottom links pivotally interconnected at their ends and only at their ends, each top link having a link member formed with integral tubular pivots adjacent its respective ends and each bottom link having a substantially flat link member formed with openings adjacent its opposite ends, said openings respectively receiving one of the pivots of the next adjacent top link members, whereby the top links are located above the bottom links and normally overlie and conceal the bottom links when the bracelet is retracted and all the links of the series are in approximate alignment when the bracelet is fully extended, spring coils located in each of said tubular pivots, each complemental pair of coils having lower end portions extending longitudinally in opposite directions over a bottom link member and having upper end portions respectively engaging a. pair of adjacent top links, so that the top links are normally swung together, and means for holding said lower end portions together, the respective link members having shells applied thereto to enclose said members and springs and retain the spring ends in operative position, the bottom links constituting free swinging connecting members.

6. In an extensible self-retracting bracelet having a series of top and bottom links pivotally interconnected at their ends, spring coils associated with the respective pivotsand arranged in complemental pairs with respect to each bottom link, one end of each coil engaging a top link of the series and the other ends of the coils of each pair extending toward each other, and means for holding the latter coil ends together and out of engagement with the bottom link, whereby-said springs react on the top links to retract the bracelet and the bottom links canstitute free swinging spacing connectors.

KARL C. AUGEN STEIN. 

